Bathing device for babies and small children



April 25, 1950 LANGLEY 2,505,252

BATHING DEVICE FOR BABIES AND SMALL CHILDREN Filed July 16, 1946 INVENTOR. Wu. "4i" MARION A. LANG LEY ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 25, 1950 UNITED, STATES harem OFFICE BATHING DEVICE FOR BABIES AND 1 SMALL CHILDREN MarionA. Langley, San Jose, Calif. Application July 16, 1946,'Serial No. 683,932

2 Claims. l

An object of my inventionisto "provide a bathing device for babies :anda'small' children which may beremovably disposed onsthedrainboard of a sink and which has novel means for holding the child from moving while permitting the mother or nurse to use both hands in washing the infant. The hild i prevented from rolling himself sideways or from sitting up while being bathed. Thedevice may be'used in the bathtub or metal tub for a bathingsupport.

A further object of my invention is to. provide a bathing device for babies and small children in which a head rest is designed to project over the sink so that the babys or childs head and hair maybe thoroughly washed. The; head rest is in clined to obviate any-tendency of soap or'water from running into "the eyes-of the infant. The device is ideal for shampooing older childrens hair.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device in which the baby-supporting board is inclined at a slight angle in order to be selfdraining of any water and at the same time provide a more comfortable support for the child while being bathed. The device is extremely simple in construction and is portable. The invention is compact and it can be packed away in a small space when not in use.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bathing device shown placed on the drainboard of a sink;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken along the line IIII of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device; and

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 3.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a bathing device that has an inclined platform indicated generally at A in Figure 1. In Figure 2 Ishow how the front end I of the platform is supported in a raised position by a transversely extending leg or support 2. The platform may be made of any material desired and of any size ill and shape. I have shown the platform substantially rectangular in plan view with curved top corners 3 and 4, see Figure 3. Theplatform= may be colored in any manner desired to provide an attractive piece of merchandize.

In the center of the platform and adjacent to the top, I provide a head rest indicated generally at B. This head rest has'a shank 5 that overlies the platform and is secured thereto by any suitable fastening means, such as screws .6. If .desired, theupper surface of the shank; may lie flush with the upper surface of the platform by placing the shank in'a groove provided inthe top of the platform. The head supporting portion I of the head rest is inclined downwardly with respect to the platform as shown in Figure -2.--

I provide novel means for holding the infant on the device and this comprises side members C and D which are attached to the platform. Figure 4 shows the platform sides provided with grooves 8 that receive the curved lower portions 9 of the side members. Screws 9a or other suitable fastening means secure the side members to the platform. The curved portions 9 permit ready cleaning. Figure 3 shows how the shoulder members are rounded at II! and I I so as to conform to the rounded upper corners 3 and 4. Fig ure 1 illustrates how the shoulder members have downwardly inclined edges I 2 and I3 that are spaced from each other and extend down to the platform A, so as to provide a head-receiving recess. The upper side edges of the shoulder members are inclined downwardly fromthe rounded portions I0 and I I to the rear edge It of the platform so as to merge into the upper surface of the platform when they reach the rear platform edge.

The shoulders of the infant are received in the rounded portions I B and I I and prevent the child from moving in the direction of its length toward the head rest B. At the same time sufficient space is provided between the sides for permitting the childs body to be soaped and rinsed with water. In order to prevent the youngster from sitting up, I provide strap receiving openings I5 and I6 in the platform for receiving a strap E that may be threaded through the openings and passed over the body of the child. A buckle i! or other suitable fastening means may be used for securing the strap to the child.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood.

The device is placed on the drainboard F in a position where the head rest B will overlie one end of the sink G. The leg 2 inclines the platstored away in a small space.

constructing the device.

3 form A in the manner indicated in Figure 2. The child is laid with its back on the platform and its head resting on the inclined head supporting portion 1. The strap E is then passed around the body of the youngster and is fastened for holding the child in place. The device is designed to be used for babies who are a few months old, up to a young child three, four or five years old. The legs of the infant can extend beyond the rear edge I 4 of the platform and will rest on the drainboard.

The entire body of the child can be washed and the hair can also be shampooed and rinsed in the sink. Since the shoulder members and the strap hold the child in place, both hands of the operator can be used for washing purposes. The water will drain from the inclined platform to the drainboard and then flow back into the sink.

The device is compact and sturdy and after use can be removed from the drainboard and The curved side portions 9 provide rounded portions between the platform and the sides. A more thorough cleaning of the device can be accomplished with this construction. I do not wish to be confined to any particular type of material used, because Wood or plastic will form an ideal material for I'do not wish to be confined to any size nor to any particular color.

I claim:

1. A bathing device for babies comprising an inclined platform with an upper edge and adapted to rest on a supporting surface, curved side members secured to the sides and upper edge of the platform for contacting with the sides of a baby for preventing the baby from rolling off the platform, the curved portions of the members contacting with the shoulders for preventing the child from moving vupwardly along the platform toward the upper edge, the curved portions being spaced from each other at the upper edge of the platform a distance suflicient to receive the childs head, and a head rest positioned between the curved portions of the members and projecting beyond the platform upper edge, the head rest beinginclined downwardly at an angle from the platform upper edge, said platform having slots therein spaced inwardly from the side members, and a strap passed through the slots and adapted to encircle the body for holding the sters head.

MARION A. LANGLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2.09:3,964 Hindle Sept. 21, 1937 2,133,223 Brightman et a1. Oct. 11, 1938 2,389,362 Harper Nov. 20, 1945 

